Every year when the Holidays come around, there is a big demand for seasonal movies. Hallmark, Lifetime, and various other networks make new movies or show their old movies, but how about watching some of the classic, and some not so classic Holiday movies. Here’s a movie for each day in December until Christmas Day, from most modern to most classic.
Dec. 1st – Just Friends (2005) Netflix
As a teenager Chris Brander (Ryan Reynolds) was best friends with Jamie Palamino (Amy Smart), and was completely “friend zoned” by her. He runs away from home and moves to L.A. and becomes a good looking music manager and ladies man. While flying to Paris with “music sensation” Samantha James (Anna Faris), the jet catches fire and they must land, placing him back in his home town. He comes face-to-face with Jamie, and decides that this time he doesn’t want to be “Just Friends.”
Dec. 2nd – The Polar Express (2004)
A young boy, who does not believe in Santa Claus, embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express. His journey leads him to self-discovery, new friendships, and finding the true spirit of Christmas.
Dec. 3rd – Love Actually (2003) Netflix
Love is all around, and for these ten very different – but interlaced – stories of love, that is certainly true. These stories will show couples dealing with their love lives, that will all lead to a great culmination on Christmas Eve.
Dec. 4th – Elf (2003)
Buddy was a baby in an orphanage who stowed away in Santa’s sack and ended up at the North Pole. As an unusually big “elf,” he wreaked havoc on the elf community; his mission this Christmas season, travel to the New York City and search for his true identity.
Dec. 5th – Eight Crazy Nights (2002)
Davey Stone (Adam Sandler), a 33-year old party animal, finds himself in trouble with the law after getting too wild. In the spirit of the Holidays, the judge grants Davey, one final chance at redemption. With the help of Whitey Duvall (also Adam Sandler), a senior referee for a youth basketball league, Davey must show the town and his childhood girlfriend, that he can be a better person.
Dec. 6th – The Family Man (2000) HBO
Jack Campbell (Nicolas Cage), a successful and talented businessman, lives a happy single life. He thinks he has everything he’s ever wanted, until he wakes up one day with a new life and a family. In this life, he never ended his relationship with his college girlfriend, and he gets a glimpse of what life would be like if they had married. A house in New Jersey, two adorable children, working at his father-in-law’s store, and a loving wife; what will he do when this ends?
Dec. 7th – Santa Who? (2000) Lifetime Movie Club
After accidentally falling out of his sleigh, Santa Claus (Leslie Nielsen) develops amnesia, and only a young boy can help him save Christmas.
Dec. 8th – I’ll Be Home for Christmas (1998)
Waking up in a California desert dressed as Santa Claus, Jake Wilson, a self-absorbed college student, must travel from California to Upstate New York by Christmas Eve. Jake races against the clock to make it home for Christmas to get the Porsche his father promised him, but on his way he’ll learn more about himself and the true meaning of the holiday.
Dec. 9th – Jingle All the Way (1996)
After Howard Langston (Arnold Schwarzenegger) arrives late to his son’s karate class, he decides to get his son the gift he wants this Christmas, Turbo Man. Not getting the gift on time, and being out of stock since it’s Christmas Eve, Howard goes on a comical quest to find a Turbo Man action figure.
Dec. 10th – The Santa Clause (1994)
Scott Calvin (Tim Allen), accidentally kills Santa Claus on Christmas Eve after hearing someone on the roof, and finds himself recruited to take his place as the new Santa. Will he be able to save Christmas in time?
Dec. 11th – The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Jack Skellington (Danny Elfman), the Pumpkin King, is displeased with his life in Halloween Town and feels that it lacks meaning. After wandering through the woods, he stumbles across Christmas Town, where he has a cheery feeling. When those in Halloween Town are not able to grasp the concept of Christmas, he decides that he and the citizens of Halloween Town will take over Christmas this year.
Dec. 12th – The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) HBO
The muppets wreak havoc in this retelling of Charles Dicken’s classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge. Charles Dickens played by The Great Gonzo, Bob Cratchit played by Kermit the Frog, and Emily Cratchit played by Miss Piggy.
Dec. 13th – Home Alone (1990) HBO
What do you do when your parents accidentally leave you “Home Alone” for Christmas? Have a ball. Then what do you do when a pair of thieves want to steal from your house and you have no one to help you? Just outsmart them with traps around the house.
Dec. 14th – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
It’s time for the Griswold’s to spend Christmas with the in-laws, all leading up to a holiday season of chaos.
Dec. 15th – Prancer (1989)
A young girl finds a wounded reindeer and must nurse him back to health, even if the whole town disagrees.
Dec. 16th – Scrooged (1988) Netflix
Another retelling of the classic Dickens tale, set in a modern world. A Tv Executive, Frank Cross (Bill Murray), is confronted by the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future.
Dec. 17th – Gremlins (1984) Amazon Prime
Remember when all you wanted for Christmas were your “two front teeth.” A boy breaks the three rules that concern the new pet that his father gave him, this Christmas may not be as merry as they had hoped.
Dec. 18th – A Christmas Story (1983)
Ralphie (Peter Billingsley), wants one gift for Christmas, a Red Ryder B.B. Gun. He sets out to convince everyone that this is the perfect gift for him.
Dec. 19th – Frosty the Snowman (1969)
A snowman comes to life in this animated film. After students at a school build a snowman and place a magician’s hat on it, Frosty the Snowman comes to life. What will happen when the greedy magician tries to get his hat back?
Dec. 20th – Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
When the Grinch decides to take Christmas away from the Who’s down in Whoville, it’s up to Cindy Lou Who to show him the real meaning of Christmas.
Dec. 21st – A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang are on a mission to find the true meaning of Christmas.
Dec. 22nd – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
A little misfit reindeer and some friends search for a place where they will fit in.
Dec. 23rd – White Christmas (1954) Netflix
A successful song-and-dance team become romantically involved with a sister act and team up to save the failing inn of their former commanding general.
Dec. 24th – Miracle on 34th Street (1947) HBO
When her toy department Santa shows up drunk for work, Macy’s supervisor Doris Walker hires Kris – an elderly man with a white beard who looks like Santa Claus – as her emergency replacement. She come to regret her choice, however, when she learns that Kris believes that he really is Santa. Kris works not only to restore Doris’ belief in Santa Claus but make her young daughter’s wishes come true, all while trying to prove his identity in a court of law.
Dec. 25th – It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)
George Bailey is a small-town man whose life seems so desperate he contemplates suicide. He had always wanted to leave Bedford Falls to see the world, but circumstances, and his own good heart have led him to stay. He sacrificed his education for his brother’s, kept the family-run savings and loan afloat, protected the town from the avarice of the greedy banker Mr. Potter, and married his childhood sweetheart. As he prepares to jump from a bridge, his guardian angel intercedes; showing him what life would have been like if he never existed.
If you still have time after watching these movies, here are some other good holiday movies: Metropolitan (1989), Die Hard (1988), Four Christmases (2008), A Rugrats Chanukah (1996), Scrooge (1970), The Holiday (2006), and The Year Without Santa (2006).